While the men continued to showcase their talents at the poetry gathering, the women were first led away to admire the lotus flowers.

Shi Buyu followed along quietly. She didn’t glance around curiously, maintaining just the right amount of interest. Only when the scenery changed did she take a look around.

After winding through several paths, the view suddenly opened up.

A servant stopped and stepped aside. “Miss, we’ve arrived.”

Shi Buyu looked up. The sunlight was just right, and layers of lotus leaves seemed to merge with the blue sky. A narrow waterway meandered through the lotus pond, where boats carried women more delicate than the flowers themselves, leisurely floating along. The blooming lotus blossoms were within arm’s reach, and bursts of cheerful laughter echoed from time to time.

On the banks, several pavilions had been set up for viewing the flowers. Young ladies sat in groups, whispering and laughing — carefree and content.

“Miss, Princess Qinghuan is honoring us with her presence. She’s in that pavilion over there, enjoying the view.”

Since the princess was here, it was only proper to pay respects before admiring the flowers. Shi Buyu followed the servant’s pointing finger. The pavilion sat in the center of the lotus pond, clearly the best spot for viewing. From afar, someone could be seen practicing swordplay inside.

There were guards stationed on the walkway, but they didn’t stop anyone from approaching. As Shi Buyu walked forward, she thought to herself: Well, this makes it clear—anyone who comes here must go greet her.

As she got closer, she saw Princess Qinghuan lazily leaning against the railing. A man supported her from behind while another fed her treats in front.

Getting even closer, she noticed the princess wore a duoma hairstyle adorned with floral pins and makeup at her temples and hairline. She was dressed in a yellow blouse and skirt, her bosom partially exposed. She looked thoroughly pleased as she was being pampered, radiating a sultry charm.

This was the empire’s Second Princess — daughter of the late emperor, older sister of Yan Shian, twenty-six years old, and still unmarried.

Unlike the reclusive, cautious Eldest Princess, Princess Qinghuan was the epitome of willfulness.

Whatever she wanted, she would ask the Emperor for it. If he refused, she would cause a scene. Once, an official suggested it was time for her to marry. She responded by sending all the favored courtesans of that official to his residence. Each took turns crying to his wife about the promises the official had made to them. The official’s wife was so furious, she returned to her parental home and nearly filed for divorce. After that, no one dared meddle in her affairs again.

She didn’t marry, but kept a string of male companions—handsome and talented ones. Every man who shared her bed was a man of notable skill or artistry. She also loved sponsoring people’s literary careers. Anyone recommended by her could compose elegant verses on the spot, far outshining others. Though her reputation was nearly in tatters, this particular talent of recommending great men had somewhat redeemed her name.

And the Emperor doted on her especially. Whatever she wanted, she got. He indulged her every whim, even allowing her to remain unmarried. No matter how many memorials officials submitted, he pretended not to see them. Lavish rewards flowed into the Second Princess’s residence like a running river.

Faced with such a princess, Shi Buyu couldn’t help but steal a few extra glances, wondering whether Princess Qinghuan knew the inside story or not.

Also… how did a mere Fifth-Rank honorary official manage to invite her to a lotus-viewing banquet?

The man who had been performing swordplay finished his set, glanced at the two approaching women, and stepped aside to return his sword to its scabbard. He wore a thin shirt, his long hair loose and disheveled, and he had a very upright, striking appearance. A light sheen of sweat on him added to his masculine charm, making him stand out starkly from the other two pampered men.

Now this kind of male companion, Shi Buyu thought, even I wouldn’t mind having one or two!

Entertaining such unspoken thoughts, Shi Buyu stood outside the pavilion and bowed. “Luo of the Luo family pays respects to Your Highness.”

“Raise your head,” Princess Qinghuan said, her gaze wanton and unrestrained. “You’re the cousin of Young Master Shian?”

That phrasing… was intriguing.

From the corner of her eye, Shi Buyu noticed all three men turn to look at her. A bold idea sprang to mind, though her tone remained polite. “Yes, I am.”

“How very… ordinary.”

The man sitting in front of the princess agreed, “Exactly, nowhere near as radiant as Your Highness.”

The man behind her snorted, “To compare her to the Princess? She’s not even worthy.”

“I spoke too rashly. Princess, I’ll punish myself,” the man said theatrically, slapping his own mouth to amuse her.

The princess ignored him. She held onto her maid’s arm, stood up, and walked past Shi Buyu after giving her a glance. “I’m going to pick a few lotus flowers myself to give someone. This spot has a fine view. I’ll leave it to you.”

Shi Buyu, who had not yet risen from her bow, turned around and remained in a respectful posture as the princess departed.

“She’s targeting you,” Wan Xia murmured as she helped Shi Buyu to her feet.

Shi Buyu smiled at the princess’s retreating figure. “Yan Shian probably didn’t expect Princess Qinghuan to show up. Otherwise, he’d have warned me that she wants to take him in as a lover.”

Wan Xia looked stunned. “As a lover?”

Shi Buyu saw a maid approaching and stopped speaking.

“Miss Luo,” the maid said, “Her Highness instructed you to stay in the pavilion and enjoy the view. Standing here—do you intend to defy her order?”

Shi Buyu hadn’t initially grasped the meaning, but this “reminder” made it clear what the princess was up to.

The best spot on the pond was hers. No one dared contest it. Yet now that she had left, she had publicly handed the place to Shi Buyu. All around, countless noblewomen must be fuming in jealousy. No wonder she was a palace-born princess—this single move had earned Shi Buyu a crowd of enemies.

Inside the pavilion, Wan Xia frowned. “Such a vicious mind.”

“She’s quick-witted,” Shi Buyu said, leaning against the railing as she looked out over the lotus pond. “Even the most beautiful view is only breathtaking the first time you see it. Stare too long, and it’s no different from the small pond back at home.”

“What do you plan to do, Miss?”

“Admire the lotuses,” Shi Buyu said, eyeing a lotus pod barely starting to form. “Pity we came a little early. Another half month and there’d be lotus seeds to eat.”

Wan Xia laughed. “No need to envy them. By then, we’ll have lotus pods in our own courtyard too.”

“Not envious,” Shi Buyu said with a grin. “Who knows what’s been buried in this pond.” Glancing at Princess Qinghuan boating on the water, she leaned into Ah Gu’s embrace and burst out laughing. “If she really wants to take Yan Shian as a lover… I could laugh about this for the rest of my life.”

Wan Xia patted her back gently. From a distance, it almost looked like she was comforting someone crying.

Meanwhile, Princess Qinghuan scoffed, “So that’s all she is. What does Yan Shian see in her? I offered to support him and pave a bright future for him. Why would he insist on sitting for the imperial exams? So many talented men have failed. What makes him think he’ll succeed?”

“You only want him because you can’t get him,” said the man holding the sword, standing at the prow of the boat. He didn’t even turn around as he spoke, despite the risk of offending her. “You don’t believe anyone can resist what you offer.”

But Qinghuan was generous in some ways. She leaned back into his arms, voice sweet and teasing. “So you know I’ve been thinking about you, Zhan Yan? When do you plan to fulfill my wish? Once I’ve had you, I’ll stop thinking about you. How about that?”

“Just say the word, Princess.”

“No, no,” Qinghuan shook her finger. “Something like this should be mutual. Only when both parties are willing does it bring pleasure. If it’s forced, I’ll lose my appetite. No rush. I can wait.”

Zhan Yan said no more.

Princess Qinghuan didn’t mind and went back to playing with the others.

There were plenty of weak-willed men—why bother trying to bend the stubborn ones?